Glossary

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)

Abnormalities in the squamous epithelium of the cervix which are premalignant

Colposcopy

Examination of the cervix under magnification using a colposcope

Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS)

A method of measuring the electrical impedance of a substance as a function of the frequency of an applied electrical current

High Grade CIN (HG CIN)

CIN2 or greater, where 2/3 or more of the cervical epithelium is abnormal

Liquid Based Cytology (LBC)

A method of analysing cervical samples whereby the cells are placed into a liquid fixative rather than spread onto a glass slide

Low Grade CIN (LG CIN)

CIN1 where 1/3 or less of the cervical epithelium is abnormal

Positive Predictive Value (PPV)

The proportion of true positives relative to all positives, in the population

See & Treat/Select & Treat

Treatment of the cervix involving removal of the TZ at the first patient visit, following identification of HG CIN

Sensitivity

Ability to detect true positives ie the proportion of people with disease who have a positive test result

Specificity

Ability to detect true negatives ie the proportion of people without disease who have a negative test result

Squamo-columnar Junction (SCJ)

Interface between the squamous and columnar epithelia

Transformation Zone (TZ)

The area of actively maturing epithelium between the new squamo-columnar junction (SCJ) and the original squamo-columnar junction